Dump beds

[old Rusty C10]

has anyone here had one for any length of time and do they hold up?
I dont mean a dump body i mean one of those kits that convert the regular bed so it tilts up and dumps

[James McClure]

Bob, not familiar with any kits, but I do know several people who have built them with varying degrees of success. Pumps, hoses, valves and cylinders and getting them mounted isn't easy but pretty straight forward. Problem everyone ran into was the tailgate. Box would tip fine with gate closed, but not open. One guy eliminated the bumper. Another lowered the bumper to below the hitch and made new brackets for the bumper. Another refabricated the tipping point pivot so he could leave the bumper on. Another made the bumper part of the bed itself. Any way you do it your going to have issues with the bumper. Build a dump trailer instead. Easier to deal with and you don't have to haul all that extra weight around 24\7. jim

[powerdriver 1958]

saw this http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/w..._419403_419403

http://www.splitez.com/Dump_hoist_ki...kup_truck.html

[AceX]

My aunt has one from the factory. Hydro system. Still work with all original equipment AFAIK.

[BLE 'BURBAN]

Check out http://www.loadhog.com/YourTruck.htm They offer an airbag setup.

[Smoke-em]

I have had my dump kit installed for over a year now. I have dumped probably 8 1 ton loads of gravel and numerous loads of mulch. I recommend this kit. (It is the kit that Northern Tool sells) It was not extrememly hard to install, but it did takes us a weekend to do it.

There are issues with mounting the rear bumper. Because you mount the brackets for the lift where the bumper attaches, you loose that ability. They recommend that you weld the bumper to the kit brackets. I didn't feel that they were heavy enough to hold the weld, and i couldn't find a rear bumper that I though was light enough to work.
I decided to just install a rear pan. There is no problem with the tail gate opening with this set up. However, I do remove the tailgate for dumping because I believe the load dumps nicer.

BTW, this is a "86" GMC 1/2 ton. I added 150lb air shocks and coil spring assists to help handle the heavy loads. Also, since this pic was taken I changed out the tires to a set of regular light truck tires. It works great!

[Conundrum]

My dad and I just got done removing one from my 74 GMC over the holidays. We tried it out, and as we removed it we found one of the reasons it wasn't working. The power wire for the hydraulics fell out of a clip and wore through on the trans crossmember.

[old Rusty C10]

the set up from smokem is what im kinda thinking of.. thanks for the input

[andrewmp6]

The loadhog is the only one i know of that lets your bed sit down like a normal truck.The rest it sits up like a inch or so.

[Smoke-em]

Originally Posted by andrewmp6

the loadhog is the only one i know of that lets your bed sit down like a normal truck.the rest it sits up like a inch or so.

Here is a pic of my truck after the installatin of the dump kit, but before the paint job. The bed of the truck sits on the frame totally, and you can not tell the lift kit has been installed.

[heavychevy79]

I need one of those, I wouldn't have to unload junk out of my bed ever again!
There was a home made lookin cable/whinch C20 dump on CL, it didn't look
very strong tho.

[Smoke-em]

Originally Posted by heavychevy79

I need one of those, I wouldn't have to unload junk out of my bed ever again!
There was a home made lookin cable/whinch C20 dump on CL, it didn't look
very strong tho.

I have a neat story about unloading my truck. I had to replace the hot water tank in my home, and of course that meant taking the old one to the dump. So, I drove up to the unload point and there are two of the city workers standing around talking. As i get out of the truck I ask them how they are doing, and they say we are just admiring your truck. So, I thank them and continue to chat with them (about my truck) as I open the tailgate. I then walk back to the cab of the truck and as we are talking I lift the bed. The old hot water heater just slides out of the bed and slides right up to the collection of junk that is there. Ha. I didn't have to touch it!
Well, of course, they loved it, and they had to take a complete tour of my truck. They were still talking about my truck as I drove away.